The Virtual Program, A Settlement Divided, by Sullivan County Historian John Conway will be held on Sunday, February 2 at 2 p.m.

Sullivan County Historian John Conway’s program, “A Settlement Divided” tells the engrossing story of the Cushetunk settlement in the 1770s, as residents chose up sides in the American Revolution, and neighbors—even, in at least one case, brothers—who had for years depended upon each other for their very survival, took up arms against one another. From Bezaleel Tyler and Moses Thomas—Patriots killed at the Battle of Minisink—to Joseph Ross and Robert Land—notorious Loyalists who befriended Joseph Brant—some of the settlement’s most prominent men ended up on opposite sides during the conflict, which also severely impacted the women and children.

Admission to this VIRTUAL ONLY program is FREE for Museum Members and $5 for non-members. To join the program, please register by email at info@timeandthevalleysmuseum.org and put A Settlement Divided Talk in the subject line, or call 845 985-7700. A link will be sent to you.  Non-members will be asked to please first make a donation on the Museum’s website:  www.timeandthevalleysmuseum. org. 

 About the speaker: John Conway is an internationally recognized historian and historiographer who has served as the official Sullivan County Historian since 1993. He is a founding member and President of the non-profit history education group, The Delaware Company, which operates Fort Delaware Museum of Colonial History in Narrowsburg and provides historical programming at the Minisink Battleground Park in Barryville. He is the co-chair, along with his wife Debra, of the official Sullivan County committee to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Revolutionary War and the Declaration of Independence.

About the Time and the Valleys Museum:  Connecting Water People and the Catskills, the Museum is open Memorial Day through September, Saturday and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m., and other times by appointment. Located at 332 Main Street in Grahamsville (St. Rt. 55), Sullivan County, admission for adults is $5, children under 16 $2, and children under six are free.  

Museum exhibitions are interactive and both fun and educational for all ages:  

• Water and the Valleys, an exhibit on the history of the Rondout and Neversink watershed area from early geological times to the 20th century. This exhibition includes interactives such as a Native American artifact guessing game, grinding corn with a mortar and pestle, videos and more.  

• Tunnels, Toil and Trouble: New York City’s Quest for Water and the Rondout-Neversink Story, an interactive exhibit on NYC water supply system and the towns that were removed to build the system, which includes computer interactives, games, puzzles, videos and building a dam and tunnel. 

• 1930s Lost Catskill Farm, a farmhouse, outhouse, barn, electric plant, milk house and working waterwheel help visitors experience life in the 1930s through displays, videos, games and hands on activities.

The Time and the Valleys Museum is proud to be a Blue Star Museum, providing free admission to active duty military members (with ID) and up to five family members.  This free admission for members of the military and their families runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day.  For more information call 845 985-7700, e-mail info@timeandthevalleysmuseum.org or visit www.timeandthevalleysmuseum.org. To schedule a field trip for schools, or group tour for children or adults, please call 845-985-7700.